of wet weather is set to barrel in the country, bringing downpours for 11 major British cities. Forecast data from WXCharts and Netweather.tv shows a gigantic 847-mile-long rain system arriving around 6am on Monday, May 5, with cities from Devon to Scotland getting a soaking.

the morning commute so those heading to work in Northern Ireland, Wales, England and Scotland might need to grab and umbrella and cagoule. Major urban centres in the crosshairs of the damp conditions are cities such as Plymouth, Bristol, Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester, Stoke, Liverpool, Carlisle, Newcastle, Belfast, Edinburgh and Belfast.

Perhaps one group who will be welcoming the rain will be farmers, who have seen a relative dry March and April. According to the Met Office, in March Wales recorded its fourth driest March on record, and England its sixth driest.

A long-range forecast from the Met Office for May 5 says in the days running up to the date it could be relatively dry but there is also the chance "of an alternative scenario coming off, with cloudier and wetter weather more extensive, especially across the south and west of the UK".

It added: "The period begins with the two alternate scenarios continuing, most likely widely dry and settled, but a lower chance of more unsettled and wet conditions, especially in the south and west.

"Towards the middle of the month signals become weak and mixed, with more balanced chances of dry / settled and wetter / unsettled conditions.

"But compared to the start of this period, this represents an increased chance of more unsettled / wet conditions. There is however a strong signal for temperatures to be at or above average."

For the rest of Easter Monday the national weather agency said it would "rather cloudy with rain continuing eastwards, sometimes heavy and thundery over England in the afternoon".

Met Office operational meteorologist Dan Stroud said said there would be highs of 17C to 18C on Monday but temperatures may drop overnight into Tuesday "low enough for a touch of frost in the very far north of the country".

He said: "But for many, Tuesday actually starts on a dry and bright note. We've got the legacy of Monday's rain still hanging on to the extreme north and east of Scotland but then it's all eyes to the west as a fairly deep area of low pressure approaches.

"So cloud and outbreaks of heavy rain will spread in from the west during the course of Tuesday."

Today:

A rather cloudy start to the day, with outbreaks of rain across western parts. Rain moving eastwards through the day, followed by sunshine and showers. Some of the showers will be heavy at times, with hail and thunder.

Tonight:

Rain will clear eastwards this evening, then it will be dry overnight with lengthy clear spells. A few fog patches developing, with temperatures falling close to freezing in the countryside.

Tuesday:

Tuesday will be a bright day for many, with sunny spells and a scattering of showers. Rain returning to the west later in the day. Feeling warmer for many.

Outlook for Wednesday to Friday:

Early rain clearing to sunshine and showers on Wednesday. Mainly dry Thursday, with some sunshine. Rain returning to western areas Friday, drier further east. Feeling warm in the sunshine throughout.